A cobpobation



l fjma feb. 19,1929'.

D. G. STEELY AERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22, 1924 Fetentetl ll'eb. i9,

UNlTElt STATES OFFICE.

DALE G. STEELY, OF ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO W. F. SCHRAFFT &

SONS CORPORATION, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSA.-

CEUSETTS.

AERATING APPARATUS.

Application filed September 22, 1921.1.. Serial No. 739,054.

This invention relates to, and has tor an object` a pr( and appa atus tor aerating or beating` viscous liquid materials to torni a 'froth or foam in a continuous manner, wherein the material to be aereated is introduced in a continuous manner into the aerating apparatus and is constrained to move in a predetermined direction through the appaatus and is aerated in its passage.

te further object is the provision ot' means to treat a, relatively small quantity of the viscous material with relatively lai j" amount ot airl` whereby rapidly and ellectively to aereate the material.

A further object is the provision of means to maintain a positive flouv et air about and in contact with the material undergoing aeration.

A vet further object is the provision of an aerating` apparatus which positively conveys the material undergoing aeration :from the entrance to the deliverypassage and acts on the material to aerate it, While conveying it.

A further object is the provision ot an aerating apparatus having a passage for aerated material the cross-sectional area oit which increases from the entrance to the de'- livery passage, whereby to accommodate the increasing bulk ot the material as it becomes aerated.

A'yet further object is the provision of means to govern accurately the rate oi output ot aerated material.

A further object is the provision of an aerating apparatus wherein the bearings tor the movable element are entirely removed trom the Zone ot aeration.

A yet further object is generally to improve aerating' apparatus.

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in section et a lieating apparatus embodyingl the invention.

Fig'. 2 is a sectional elevation EZ-2 of Fig. '1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation 3 3 of Fig. il.

Fig. it is a sectional elevation 1 -1t of Fig. l.

5 is a sectional detail along` line 5*?) of Fig. l.

The apparatus einbodyinpl the invention is particularly adapted, although not. necessarilv limited, to aerating, or beating, eggs.

rEhe beatingapparatus includes a cylinder l0 ot substantial length and diameter and along l ine along line along line preferably open at both ends. The material, as egg solution, is adapted to be introduced in a continuous manner into the cylinder at, say, the right hand end, Fig. l, and the viscous egg froth is adapted to be discharged from the cylinder at the opposite end. The beating element includes a shaft ll which is disposed axially within and substantially concentric with the cylinder and is extended outwardly beyond both ends et the cylinder. The eX- teuded ends et' said shatt are supported rotatably in bearing' standards 1Q, which standards are preferably secured removably, by bolts la, to the supporting base l5 and may have removable caps 16 by which the shaft may be removably supported in the standards.

Then eggs are to be beaten, itis impera tive that no oil comes in contact with the egg solution as the froth Will not form if the solution contains even a trace of oil and, consequently, the bearings are so tar removed troni the aerating- Zone, or from the ends of the cylinder, that the lubricatingl oil for the shaft bearings is unlikely to come in contact with the material to be aerated.

A pulley 18, or equivalent device, is lined to the shaft, preferably beyond one of ythe bearing standards, by means of which the shaft may be rotated. Means are carried by said shaft, Within the cylinder, to act upon and whip or beat the material to be aerated and said means preferably is so arranged that it acts also positively to convey the material underpx)ing` aeration 'from the entrance to the discharge end oi the cylinder, and whip the material during its traverse ot the cylinder. Said means preferably comprises an open spiral coil 2O oit Wire ot substantial length and diameter, which coil is Wound in spiral formation about the major portion of the length et said shaft contained Within the cylinder, and is fixed to and is driven with the shatt. rlhe individual turns in said coil, when applied to the shalt, are spaced from each other and form an etlective device for Whipping' the material to be aerated. As the n'iaterial increases in bulk during the aeratinpprocess, l prefer to increase the spacing a, between the eenvolutions of the coil on the shaft, from the. entrance to the discharge end of the cylinder, whereby to aecommodate the increasing` bulk of the material as it takes up the air. At the materialentrance, the convolutions may be close toorifice 3l whereby the flow ot material.

l2 License c'ethei' or even-be inter-linkeiln as shown :it determined. b* the head and the dimensions c: l 7 f I. l) 1 'p I) since the cross-sectional area or the in uor tue orince.

der at the entrance is considerably y Y, than the volume oi the unaerated materia introduced Within the cylinder.

The convolutions ol the coil are also so formed, with relation to the direction ot rotation oitI the sha-tt 1l, that they act as a coin yeyor to moi/'e the material positively from the entrance to the discharge end ot the cylinder.

One oit the objects ot the invention is the provision of means to circulate an abundance ot air positively tl ougli said cylinder l0 and in contact with the material undergoing aeration. l an ini- The ineens may include peller which is lined to the shalt ll and disposed Within the cylinder lO at the iiiateriahentrance end there il? and pieter-ably spaced 'from the end the aerating coil. The iiupeller in ay be lorined with a plurality ot' `canes 24 which are so inclined, with relation to the direction ot rotation ot the sha-ift il, that a relatively large quantity oit' air is drawn in through the open end ott the cylinder vand caused to Aflow therealong and through the Whipping coil and its convolutioiis, and in intimate Contact with the mato rial undergoing` aeration.

Preferably, the diameter ot said inipeller somewhat less than the inner diameter oit the cylinder so that the impeller may rotate iree Yt'roin contact with the cylinder yet Without undue clearance between it and the cylinder. Preferablya also7 the Whipping coil is so constructed and arranged that it may ro-v tate `free :troni actual contact With the cylinderand yet be closely spaced therewith.

The viscous material to be Whipped or beat is introduced into the cylinder, preterably at the top, in the space c between the toi-Ward end of the whipping coil and the iinpcller; and the iinpellcr serves not only to :torce air through the cylinder butto prevent the iiiatciial Ytrom escaping through the toru'aril o jgsicn end et i il The ii'iaterial to be beat, usually as a if'iscous colloidal liquid, is caused to flow in a continuous manner und in a relatively small stream into the cylinder through a pipe fl() which extends through the wall ol the cylinder and may terminate in an oriiice lill ot pre- Adeternfuned dimensions and the nlou* ot ma Vflow ot liquidmaterial into the apparatus7 and said means may includemeans to maintain constantihead` of material over the calibrated into "ate the apparatus will be constant and a The pipe is in communication With a receptacle which elevated a suitable extent 'the orifice 3l, and also the discharge end c, tube l0. The liquid material is contained in a supply tank 3? which is elevated ore said receptacle 35, and a pipe 38 ext x s between the two. The liquid is adapted to be maintained at a constant level in the receptacle in a suitable manner as3 tor instance, a llcat may be disposed Within said receptacle to be buoyed up by and rise and with the liquid Within the receptacle. :float may open and close a valve i2 u'hici controls the admission liquid from pipe 38 and thereby maintains a substantiallyY nstant level olf liquid in the constant level taille certain purposes it may be desirable to i c output oit the apijiaratus and Y constant the rate ot increased output. "or his purpose a second pipe 1 may be arranged for communication with the cylinder and the constantflcvcl receptacle; and said pipe may be provided with a calibrated orifice l1L through which the liquid may ilow when the shut-off valve 32 is open. Said orifices may be ot the saine or dillerent dimensions, and the rate et' output oit aerated material will depend upon the number ot orifices or particular oriilice in use.

rhe aerated material or froth appears at the discharge end of the cylinder l0 as a tube et froth upon the inner :tace ol the cylinder, and the excess air isdischarged axially from the interior of the tube oi froth into the atinosphere. l hood 50 is attached to the cylinder, at the discharge end, to catch the froth as it issues ifrom the cylinder. Said hood is tornied-Witl'i an apiiroxiinatcly annular recess 5l which surouncs and is larger than the open end et the cylinder l0 and -which is adapted to receive tl e froth and guide to the outlet passage 52. Said hood has lateral opening` 5i which is aligned with. and is iirellerably at least as large as the open end ot the cylinder and through which excess air may ape to the i mosphere.

pipe maj-y' be arranged to dischiir e a `in el water into the inlet sparc l2 oit the der :tor cleaningv purposes and, when ilo-- tt ll and its Whipping coil may i Vi liroueh the open end of the cv inner by disconiiec ng the bearii V standn ards trom the base 1 5, `tor cleaning purposes.

lclaiin: l. il beatiufsl device tor 'Viscous liquids Gti thereof and having provision for whipping the liquid and air streams into a froth and moving the froth alongl the tube to the other' open end thereof.

2. A beating device for viscous liquids coinprising a tube open at the ends, a fan to pass a large stream of air through the tube at one end, neans o introduce a small stream ol' viscous liquid into the tube at the saine end and into the air stream from the fan, and a beating device disposed in the tube and eb;- tended along the length thereof and having provision for whipping the liquid and air strcau'is into froth and movingl the froth along the tube to the other end thereof, said tube having a lateral discharge opening ad jacent said other end through which the froth is adapted to pass.

3. l'i beating device for viscous liquids comprising a tube open at the ends. a tan to j, a large stream of air through the tube at one end, means to introduce a small stream of vis Cous liquid into the tube at the same end and into the air stream from the fan, and a beating device including a rotatable shaft disposed Within and extended along the length of the aube having- Whipping elements thereon which Whip the liquid and air streams into a froth and move the froth along the tube to the other open end thereof, said shaft being extended through and beyond both open ends of the tube, and bearing-supports for the ends of the shaft disposed remote from the open ends.

al. Beating` apparatus for viscous liquids con'iprising a relatively long straight tubular chamber having an outlet passage at one end and means to introduce air and a stream ot the viscous liquid to be aorated at the other end, and a` beating device within the chamber arranged to ivhip the air and viscous liquid into a froth and having such configuration that the space occupied by it per unit axial length decreases progressively from one end to the other of said chamber, whereby to accommodate the expanding bulk of the liquid as it becomes froth during its passage along the chamber.

5. Beating apparatus for viscous liquids comprisinga relatively long, straight and horizontally-disposed aeratiirc chamber open at both ends, means to introduce air and a stream of viscous liquid inte one open end thereof, and beating means disposed within said chamber having provision for whipping the liquid into ay froth and propelling the `froth toward the other open end of tlu` chamber, said beating` and propelling means having provision for accommodating the expandi ing bulk of the material as it forms froth during its traverse of the chan'iber.

6. Beating apparatus for viscous liquids comprising a relatively long and horizon tally-disposed tube open for its full diameter at bot-h ends and havingI means for introducing streams of material and air into the tube at one open end, and beating means disposed Within said tube to Whip the liquid in contact With the air Within the tube and form a froth of the liquid and sin'iultaneously propel the .froth toward the other open end of the tube.

7. Beating apparatus for viscous liquids comprising a relatively longl tube open at both ends, a beating device disposed Within the tube arranged to ivhip the liquid into a froth, an air-forcing device disposed within one open end of said tube adjacent said beating device, and means for introducing a stream of viscous liquid into the tube between said beating device and air-forcing device.

8. Beating apparatus for viscous liquids comprising a relatively long tube open at both ends, a rotatable shaft extended longitudinally Within the tube and having Whipping means extended laterally of the shaft, and along the major part ofthe length of said tube said whipping means adapted to whip the liquid. to a froth., an air impeller disposed within said tube adjacent an open end thereof and fixed to said shaft adjacent said whipping means, and means to introduce a stream of liquid to be beaten to a froth into said tube and to said impellcr.

9. Beating apparatus for viscous liquids comprising' a tube having a discharge opening for the beaten liquid at one end and an opening for the introduction of liquid to be beaten and air at the other end and a beating device rotatably disposed within said tube comprising a shaft rotatably disposed within said tube and an open spiral coil fixed to and disposed about said shaft in ay plurality of axially-disposed convolutions.

l0. Beating apparatus for viscous liquids comprising a tube having a discharge opening for the beaten liquid at one end and an opening for the introduction of liquid to be beaten and air at the other end and a beating device rotatably disposed within said tube comprising a shaft rotatably disposed Within said tube and an open spiral coil fixed to and disposed about said shaft in a plurality of axially-disposed convolutions which are spaced closer together at one end than at the other end of the shaft.

l1. Beating apparatus for viscous liquids comprising a tube having a discharge opening for the beaten liquid at one end and an opening for the introduction of liquid to be beaten and air at the other end and a beating device rotatably disposed within said tube comprising a shaft rotatably disposed within said tube and au open spiral coil lixcd to and disposed about said shaft in a plurality of axially-disposed convolutions, the spacing of which eonvolutions varies from one end to the other.

1Q. Beatino' apparatus for viscous liquids comprising` a tube having a discharge opening for the beaten liquid at one end and an opening` for the introduction ot liquid to be beaten and air at the other end and a beating device rotatably disposed Within said tube comprising a sha-ft rotatably disposed Within said tube and an open spiral coil lined to and disposed about said shaft in a plurality ot axially-disposed convolutions7 the spacing ot which convolutions increases approximately uniformly troni one end to the other end ot the shaft.

18. .Beating apparatus for viscous liquids comprising a tube having a dischargfge opening for the beaten liquid one end and an inlet opening' tor the liquid to be beaten at the other end, a beating` device disposed ivitli* in said tube between said openings compris ing a shaiit rotatably disposed Within said tube and a spiral coil fixed to and disposed about said shaft in a plurality ot ari llydisposed convolutions, and ineens to dirtY stream of air into said tube to 'dow :tornai-d, said liquid. inlet and said beating device.

14.. Beating apparatus ior viscous liquids comprising a tube havingr a discharge openin for the beaten liquid at one end and an inlet opening for the liquid to be beaten the other end, a beating device disposed Within said tube between said openings comprising a shaft rotatably disposed Within said tube and a spiral coil xed to and disposed about said shaft in a plurality of axially-disposed convolutions at one side oit said liquid inlet opening7 and an air irnpeller iiied to said shaft and disposed Within said tube and on the other side of the liquid inlet opening.

l5. Beating apparatus 'for viscous liquids comprising a tube having a discharge opening for the beaten liquid at one end and an inlet opening' Ytor the liquid to be beaten at the other end a beating device disposed Within said tube between said openings compris ing a shaft rotatably disoosed Within said tube and a spiral coil iixed to and disposed about said sha'ft in a plurality et axiallydisposed convolutions at one side of the liquid inlet opening, the spacingof said convolutions increasing approximately progressively troni tie liquid inlet toward the discharge opening` of the tube, and an air iinpeller fixed to said shaft and disposed Within the tube on the other side ot tl e liquid inlet opening.

16. A continuous egg beater comprising a horizontal tube which is open to the air at one end and has an outlet passage :tor the froth at its other end7 ineans to introduce a small continuous stream ot egg' liquid into the open end ot said tube, and a rotatable beatinp` device disposed Within said tube at the entrance ot the continuous strcain of liquid thereto, and extended along' the tube toward the outlet passage7 said beating device having,- Whipping elements which eut across and churn the streain et liquid and the air Within the tube and convert the egg liquid into a froth which is discharged at the outlet passage.

ln testimony whereof, l have signed iny naine to this specification.

DALE STEELY. 

